<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001101680</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ZHONE TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZHNE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205970</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GREENE JAMES H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2800 SAND HILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>21052</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48784</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>57732</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8959375</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of share award for services by the Reporting Person on the Board of Directors of the Issuer pursuant to the Amended and Restated Zhone Technologies, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant of restricted share award for services by the Reporting Person on the Board of Directors of the Issuer pursuant to the Amended and Restated Zhone Technologies, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan. The restricted shares vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning May 15, 2009, so that all of the shares will become fully vested on May 15, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">KKR-ZT, L.L.C. holds 8,959,375 shares of common stock of Zhone.  The Reporting Person is a member of KKR 1996 GP LLC, which is the sole general partner of KKR Associates 1996, L.P., which is the sole general partner of KKR 1996 Fund, L.P., which is the senior member of KKR-ZT, L.L.C.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">KKR 1996 GP L.L.C. is a Delaware limited liability company, of which the Reporting Person is a member.  The Reporting Person may be demed to share benefical ownership of shares of common stock of the Issuer that KKR 1996 GP L.L.C. may beneficially own, or be deemed to beneficially own, but disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this statement shall not be deemed an admission that, for purposes of Sction 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise, the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of all such equity securities covered by this statement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard J. Kreider
Attorney-in-Fact for the Reporting Person
/s/ Richard J. Kreider</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
